Game



Se t 1, 1925.

w. J. MICHENER GAME Filed Sept. 6, 1923 2, Sheets-Sheet '1 6 FIG. 1.

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Wzilmm eZMb'c'hewer ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAME.

Application filed September 6, 1923. Serial No. 661,127.

To all 1071 0111 it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM J. MICHE- rrnu, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Merchantville, in the county of Camden and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Game,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a game and the object of my invention is toprovide a game comprising floats, or vessels adapted to float upon thesurface of water and moved into opponents territory by a jet of water,directed from a nozzle, upon the floats or vessels by the player; afurther object of my invention is to provide a float, or vessel, whichmay be filled with water and submerged at various positions in relationto a scoring field; a still further object is to provide a nozzle havingan automatic controlling valve; and a still further object is to providevarious novel features of construction and arrangements of the severalparts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings; Fig. 1, is a perspective view ofmy novel game, showing the receptacle partly broken away to betterillustrate the parts, and showing the manner of playing the game; Fig.2, is an enlarged plan view, detached, of the cage shown in Fig. 1';Fig. 3, is a vertical section on line 33 Fig. 2; Fig. 4, is view similarto Fig. 2, showing a form of cage adapted to be used for two players;Fig. 5, is a verticalsection on line 55 Fig. 4; Fig. 6, is an enlargedplan view of the receptacle, showing the scoring field arranged upon thebottom thereof; Fig. 7, is a. transverse section on line 77 Fig. 6,showing a cage positioned within the receptacle; Fig. 8, is a plan viewof the float, or vessel; Fig. 9, is a side elevation of the vessel shownin Fig. 8; Fig. 10, is a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzleembodying a valve with'automatic operating mechanism; Fig. 11, is anendelevation of Fig. 10; and Fig. 12, is a transverse section on line1212 Fig. 10. i

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters referto like parts, 1 represents the receptacle for holding water, upon whichone or more vessels 2 are placed. receptacle is of rectangular formationand adapted to be used by two or four players standing around thereceptacle and each player operating a nozzle 5, as shown in Fig. 1.

The receptacle 1 is constructed with curved retaining walls 6, forming adeep central portion, or well 7, having a bottom 8, consisting of foursurfaces inclined from the elevated center, or apex, towardsthe fourwalls 6, over which surface the vessel 2 is adapted to roll towards thewalls 6, when submerged and in a horizontal position.

The surfaces of the bottom 8 of the receptacle are marked with boundarylines to form scoring fields A, B and C, (shown in Fig. 6), havingdifferent values fixed by the rules of the game. The object of the gamebeing to sink the opponents vessel when inan advantageousposition overopponents scoring field.

A cage 12 is provided for limiting the movements of the vessels 2 topositions above the scoring fields. Said cage 12 is adapted to rest uponthe bottom 8 of the receptacle, and consists of upper and lower framemembers l8 and 14 supported by legs 15. Between the frame members 13 and14 are walls 16 formed by wires which are bent inwardly so that thewalls, will be inclined inwardly, making the space within the cagesmaller at the bottom than at the top. Said inclined walls tending tohold the vessel 2 in an erect position when forced against the walls.Said legs 15 support the cage at a suflicient height to permit thevessel 2 to roll under the lower frame member 14 of the cage when thevessel is submerged and in a horizontal position upon the bottom 8.

The form of cage 18 shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is adapted for two players,and it may be placed in the receptacle 1 instead of the cage 12, shownin Fig. 2, which latter is adapted for four players.

The cage 18, shown in Figs. 4and 5, is provided with its opposite sidewalls 19 and 20 bent inwardly forming compartments 21 and 22, connectedby a restricted passageway 23, through which the vessel 2 may be drivenby the players standing on opposite side of the receptacle adjacent tothe compartments 21 and 22 of the cage. Sa1d walls 19 and 20 of the cage18 have portions extending diagonally and thus correspond approximatelywith the diagonal lines of the scoring field upon the bottom 8 of thereceptacle. This form of cage 18 is adapted to limit the movements ofthe vessel 2 to position immediately over two opposite portions of saidscoring field.

The vessel 2, is of hollow construction, having a conical body portion25 and a curved upper portion 26, provided with a neck 27 having anobliquely formed end opening 28, through which opening the vessel may befilled by directing the jet of water from the nozzle 5. The obliqueopening 28 of the neck forms a higher part 29 on one side which makes itmore difficult for the jet to enter the neck when said higher part 29 ispresented towards a player. A fin 30 is secured upon one side of theneck of the vessel, by which the latter may either be made to spin, orprevented from spinning by the jet of water. The lower conical end ofthe vessel is provided with a weight 31 adapted to hold it in an erectposition when floating upon the water.

The nozzle 5 consists of a cylindrical body portion 32 having at one enda reduced inlet member 33, connected with a flexible supply pipe 34, anda reduced outlet member 35 at the opposite end. A disk 36 is pivotallymounted upon a shaft 37 extending transversely through the body portion32. The latter is provided with stops 38 and 39 against which the edgesof disk 36 overlap when the disk is in a position to close off the flowof water through the nozzle, as shown in full lines Fig. 10. The disk 36is operated by weights, in the form of balls 40 and 41 which are free toroll longitudinally of the nozzle, within the. tubes 42 and 43, locatedat opposite sides of the disk 36. Plungers 44 and 45 are attached torods 46 which are connected to opposite sides of the disk 36. Saidplungers are loosely positioned within the tubes 42 and 43, so that theballs will strike the plungers when they are rolled towards the disk 36,upon the nozzle being inclined. By this construction the disk 36 forms abalanced valve, as the water pressure will be equal upon the surfaces ofthe disk at either side of the pivot shaft 37, thus permitting the diskto be moved to the open or closed positions by a slight power such asthe ball will exert against the plunger.

When the outlet end 35 of the nozzle is pointed downwardly. so astodirect the jet of water within the receptacle 1, the weight of the ball41 will hold the disk 36 in the open position, as shown in dotted linesFig. 10 when the outlet end 35 is raised and the body of the nozzle isinclined above a horizontal position, the ball 40 will roll against theplunger 44 and move the disk 36 into the closed position. By this arranement the flow of water will be automatically shut off when the outletend of the nozzle is in clined above a horizontal position, thuspreventing water being directed upon the play ers or surroundingarticles.

A flexible member 48, (see Fig. 1), is connected between the nozzle 5and the receptacle 1, or some fixed part adjacent thereto, which member48 will limit the distance the player may extend the nozzle towards thecenter of the receptacle 1.

The game may be played by two or four players using either one vessel,or each player may be assigned one or more vessels. By means of thenozzle a jet of water is used for driving the vessel into opponentsscoring field, filling it with water, and causing it to sink so that theconical point will strike a. particular part of the scoring field uponthe bottom of the receptacle. Said jet of water may be directed by theplayer so as to cause the vessel to spin and-thus prevent it from beingfilled and-submerged at a position of the scoring field which wouldcount against said player. By using either of the cages shown in Figs. 2or 4, the game may be played by either two or four players.

Having thus described my invention 1 claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. A game comprisinga receptacle adapted to contain water, a vesseladapted to be moved upon the surface of the water, said vessel having anopening in the top thereof, and a nozzle positioned adjacent to the edgeof the receptacle through which a 'et of water may be manuallycontrolled a apted to be directed into said opening in the ves selcausing it to sink when full of water.

2. A game comprising a receptacle for containing water, said receptaclehaving scoring fields associated therewith, a vessel adapted to be movedupon the surface of the water, said vessel having an opening formedinthe top thereof through which it may be filled with water and sunk atvarious positions upon the scoring field, and a nozzle positionedadjacent to the edge of the receptacle through which a jet of water ismanually controlled and adapted to be directed into said vessel causingit to sink.

3. A game comprising a receptacle adapted to contain water, a vesseladapted to float upon the surface of the water, a neck havin an open endformed upon said vessel, said neck being higher at one top edge thereofthan at the opposite edge, and a nozzle positioned adjacent to the edgeof the receptacle,

and connected with a source of water supply for directing a jet of waterinto said vessel llt) nected with a source of water supply for directinga jet of water into said'vessel causing it to sink. i

5. A game comprising a receptacle adapted to contain water, avesseladapted to float upon the surface of the water, said vessel having anopening formed in the top thereof, a nozzle positioned adjacent to theedge of the receptacle and connected with a source of watersupplyadapted for directing a jet of water towards said vessel at an obliqueangle in relation to the vertical axis of the vessel, a fin upon theouter surface of the vessel against which the jet of water may bedirected for causing the vessel to spin, and said vessel having aprotecting member formed adjacent to the said opening adapted to make itmore difficult to direct the jet of water into said opening when saidpro-- tecting member is turned towards the nozzle discharging the jet ofwater.

6. A game comprising a receptacle adapted to contain water, a hollowvessel having a conical lower portion, a weight in said lower portionadapted to cause the vessel to float in an erect position, said vesselhaving a filling opening in its upper portion, and a nozzle positionedadjacent to the edge of the receptacle adapted for directing a jet ofwater against the vessel for filling the same and causing it to sink.

7. A game comprising a receptacle adapted to containing water, a vesseladapted to be moved upon the surface of the water, said vessel having anopening formed at the top thereof through which it may be filled withwater and sunk to the bottom of said receptacle, and said receptaclehaving arranged upon the bottom thereof scoring fields representingvarious values for scoring when the vessel is sunk upon a certainscoring field.

8. A game comprising a receptacle adapted to containing water, a vesseladapted to be moved upon the surface of the water, said vessel having anopening formed at the top thereof through which it may be filled withwater and sunk to the bottom of said receptacle, a cage adapted to beplaced upon the bottom of the receptacle, and said cage having sidewalls adapted to hold said vessel within certain bounds in relation tothe bottom of the receptacle. I

9. A game comprising a receptacle adapted to containing water, a vesseladapted to be moved upon the surface of the water, said vessel having anopening formed at the top thereof through which it may be filled withwater and sunk to the bottom of said receptacle, said receptacle havingarranged upon the bottom thereof scoring fields representing variousvalues for scoring when the vessel is sunk upon a certain field, aremovable cage having side walls adapted to hold said object withincertain bounds in relation to the scoring field, said cage having, twoof its opposite walls extending inwardly and forming a restrictedpassageway between the side walls forv the passage of the vessel betweenopposite compartments formed within the cage, and said cage adapted-tobe placed over certain portions of the scoring fields whereby the gamemay be adapted for two players.

10. A game comprising a receptacle adapted to contain water, a vesselprovided with a conical lower portion adapted to float in an erectposition upon the water, a cage adapted to be placed upon the bottom ofthe receptacle, saidcage comprising upper and lower frame members, sidewalls positioned between said frame members, said side walls beinginclined at an angle in relation to a vertical plane approximatelycorresponding to the angle of the conical lower portion of said vesselwhereby the latter will be held in a vertical position when forcedagainst the inclined walls ofthe cage and means located adjacent to theedge of the receptacle adapted for directing a pressure medium againstthe vessel.

11. A game comprising a receptacle adapted to contain water, a vesseladapted to be moved upon the surface of the water by a jet of waterdirected against the vessel, a

nozzle located adjacent to the edge of the receptacle through which saidjet passes, a valve in said nozzle a member movably mounted within thenozzle adapted to be actuated by gravity to close the valve andautomatically shut off the flow of water when the outlet end of thenozzle is inclined above a horizontal position.

12. A game comprising a receptacle adapted to contain'water, a vesseladapted to be moved upon the surface of the water by a jet of waterdirected against the vessel, a nozzle located adjacent to the edge ofthe receptacle through which the said jet passes comprising a bodyportion, a balanced valve positioned pivotally mounted within the bodyportion adapted to' control the passageway through the nozzle, andmovable weights within the body portion adapted to be moved by gravityagainst opposite sides of the valve to automatically open or close thevalve when the body portion is inclined from a horizontal position.

13. A game comprising a receptacle containing water, a vessel adapted tofloat upon the water and moved by a jet of water, a nozzle locatedadjacent to the edge of the receptacle through which said jet passes, aflexible supply pipe connected with the nozzle, and a flexible memberhaving one end thereof attached to the nozzle-and its other end attachedto a member fixed in relation to the receptacle and adapted to limit thedistance the nozzle may be moved towards the center of the receptacle.

14.:A game comprising a receptacleffor holding water, a vessel adaptedto be moved through which it maybe filled=-with Water and submerged,said receptacle having a depressed central portion, abottom formed inthe said central portion of pyramidal formation adapted: to causesaidvessel when submerged to roll towards the outer extremities of saidcentral portion, a cage having Walls enclosing-anarea over which thevessel may be moved When-fioatingupon the Water, and legs upon the cageadapted to support said Walls at a sufficient height to permit saidvessel to roll uponthe inclined bottom of the receptacle and roll underthe Walls of the cageWhen said vessel is in a horizontal position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM J. MICI-IE'NER.

